Fatal Car/Pedestrian Accident in Pottawatomie County

The name and further details have been released in connection with the early Sunday fatal accident in Pottawatomie county KMAN news first told you about Sunday morning

The victim has been identified as Konley Harding, 21, of Manhattan, who was a student at the Manhattan Area Technical College.

In a release, Dr. Rob Edleston, President and CEO of the Manahttan Area Technical College, had words to say about the incident and about the student who was lost.

“It is with deep sorrow that we begin this week mourning the loss of our dear student, Konley L. Harding, who lost his life this weekend in a terrible accident. Konley has been a student in our Business Administration program and was spending his last semester with us finishing his general education courses before graduating in December. He was an active member of the student body serving on the Student Government Organization and participating in many academic and extracurricular activities. He will be dearly missed, but never forgotten by our faculty, fellow students and the staff at Manhattan Area Technical College. Our collective thoughts and prayers will abide with Konley’s family, friends, and acquaintances during this difficult and trying time.”

Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Riat announced Monday that at about 12:09 a.m.Sunday the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 report of a person lying in the roadway on Highway 24 just East of Excel Road in the East bound lane of 24, approximately two miles East of Manhattan. Sheriff’s Deputies and Emergency services responded to the area and found that a 21-year-old male had just been struck by a vehicle. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Again, the Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim as 21-year-old Konley L. Harding.

The Sheriff’s Office continues to look for the vehicle and driver that struck the victim. A witness to the incident reports a light-colored medium-sized Sport Utility Vehicle was the type of vehicle believed to have struck the victim.

The witness reported the SUV type vehicle was Eastbound on 24, and continued Eastbound after striking the victim. Investigators believe that because of the clothing worn by the victim, and that the victim was reported to be lying in the roadway before being struck, the driver of the vehicle would have known they struck an object, but may not necessarily have known that they had struck a person.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking for this person to come forward, or anyone with information on this incident to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office at 785-457-3353, or their local law enforcement agency.

Older Story:

The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department and Kansas Highway Patrol are investigating a pedestrian accident that took the life of 21- year-old Manhattan man.

The Sheriff’s Office reported a 911 call shortly after midnight of a pedestrian being struck on Highway 24 east of Excell Rd approximately two miles east of Manhattan in the eastbound lane. When officers arrived the man was deceased.

Witnesses report observing a white in color smaller SUV crossover or large sedan with hatchback run over the individual and continue eastbound. The area was unlit and the individual was wearing dark clothes. The driver might not have realized that they struck a human.

While the man’s name has not been released, he was reportedly a student at Manhattan Area Technical College.

The sheriff’s department is reviewing surveillance tapes of traffic in the area at that time from various businesses. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department or KHP, with the Sheriff’s Department number of 785-457-3353.